Route 66 Historical Village in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Tulsa, Oklahoma · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Museum with a major rail exhibitFreeOutdoor exhibits free and open 24/7; Visitor Center open seasonally

The Route 66 Historical Village is a free, open-air museum on Tulsa's stretch of the Mother Road, where a Frisco steam locomotive, a caboose and a 1929 Pullman car tell how rail, the highway and oil built the city.

  • Frisco 4500 Meteor steam engine
  • Frisco 1157 caboose
  • 1929 Pullman car Murray Hill
  • Outdoor exhibits free, open 24/7
  • Right on Route 66

Route 66 Historical Village at a glance

Hours
Outdoor exhibits open 24/7 year-round; Visitor Center April to November, Friday to Sunday 12 to 3 pm
Admission
Free
Plan for
About 30 minutes to an hour
Best for
Route 66 road trippers and families who want a free stop
Best ages
All ages

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Route 66 Historical Village? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Tulsa.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

Where Tulsa's railroad, oil and highway stories meet

The Route 66 Historical Village sits on Southwest Boulevard, part of historic Route 66 in Tulsa, and it was set up to show how the legendary highway shaped the city's growth. Its mission is to give visitors hands-on, indoor and outdoor learning about every mode of transportation and about the oil industry that powered Tulsa. The Route 66 Village and Red Fork Depot operate together as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and donations and venue rentals pay for upkeep.

The railroad collection is the heart of the village. The Frisco 4500 Meteor steam engine is what the village itself calls its crown jewel, and it is joined by Frisco caboose 1157 and a 1929 Pullman car, the Tulsa-Sapulpa Union Murray Hill. That car first ran on the New York, New Haven and Hartford and on the Pennsylvania Railroad's Federal Express. Members of the local Townwest Sertoma Club guided its restoration, stripping old paint and rust by hand so the car could teach visitors about early travel and business.

Community support shows up across the grounds. The City of Tulsa and its Vision 2025 funds paid for the village's neon sign in 2020, and for the 2026 Route 66 Centennial the village sells engraved Honor Bricks for $66, with the proceeds going to maintenance and preservation. Volunteers known as the Village Crew greet visitors at the Visitor Center.

A steam engine, a caboose and a derrick along Southwest Boulevard

This is an open-air museum, so you can walk the grounds any time of day or night without a ticket. The Frisco 4500 Meteor steam engine anchors the rail exhibit, with the red Frisco 1157 caboose and the restored Murray Hill Pullman car close by. The village's website has a photo gallery where you can hover over each picture for a longer description before you go.

The oil story shares the space: look for the tall Centennial Derrick, pump jacks and a cottage gas station of the kind that once lined Route 66. The Red Fork Depot, a 5,000 square foot event venue, rounds out the village and can be rented for parties and gatherings. A historical marker on site describes the collection of restored railroad, transportation and oil artifacts.

Don’t miss

  1. Frisco 4500 MeteorThe village's prize piece and the centerpiece of its rail exhibit, a full-size Frisco steam locomotive.
  2. Frisco 1157 cabooseA bright red caboose that makes the classic end-of-train photo for young visitors.
  3. Tulsa-Sapulpa Union Murray Hill carBuilt by Pullman in 1929 for the New Haven and the Pennsylvania's Federal Express, and restored with help from the Townwest Sertoma Club.
  4. Centennial DerrickA towering oil derrick that ties the trains to the oil boom that built Tulsa.
  5. Cottage gas stationA small station in the style of the Route 66 era, a fitting stop for road trippers.

A big red caboose and a giant steam engine to spot

Kids can walk right up to a full-size steam locomotive and a red caboose, then compare them with the tall oil derrick and the little gas station. Because the outdoor exhibits are free and always open, a short stop works well on a road trip when little legs need a stretch.

Everything is outside, so plan for sun and wind in summer and cold in winter. The Visitor Center, staffed by volunteers, is the place for questions when it is open.

Plan your visit: tips for Route 66 Historical Village

  • The outdoor exhibits are free and open around the clock, so you can stop any time.
  • The Visitor Center is closed December through March; the contact page also says it opens by appointment, so call ahead.
  • Hover over the photos on the village website for detailed descriptions of each exhibit.
  • For Red Fork Depot rentals, email events@route66village.com or call (918) 619-9473.

The Village Crew and friends of the village

The Route 66 Historical Village is a nonprofit, and volunteers called the Village Crew staff its Visitor Center. Donations are tax deductible and help keep the lights on, Red Fork Depot rentals support the grounds, and an engraved $66 Honor Brick for the Route 66 Centennial helps pay for preservation. The village also invites friendly people who enjoy welcoming visitors to join the Village Crew.

Rail stops within a drive of Tulsa

The Oklahoma Steam Threshers and Gas Engine Association grounds in Pawnee are about 47 miles west. The Oklahoma Territorial Museum in Guthrie is about 82 miles away, and the Oklahoma Railway Museum, with train rides, is about 94 miles southwest. Browse every train museum in Oklahoma to plan the rest of the trip.

Every train museum in Oklahoma

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi dreaming about his toy turtle, green bone and yellow ball
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

A Route 66 stop feels like it belongs in a road trip story, and it made me think of Rally packing for his trip in our book: his turtle toy, his green bone and his yellow ball, all squeezed into his little suitcase. Kids love deciding what comes along. If yours are reading along with you, our list of train books for toddlers is a good place to pick one for the car.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Route 66 Historical Village?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Route 66 Historical Village: 20 questions about the Tulsa train exhibit

Where is the Route 66 Historical Village in Tulsa?

The Route 66 Historical Village is at 3770 Southwest Boulevard in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on the historic Route 66 corridor just south of downtown. Its mailing address is P.O. Box 571266, Tulsa, OK 74157, but use the Southwest Boulevard address for directions. Call (918) 619-9473 if you need help finding it.

Is the Route 66 Historical Village free?

Yes. The outdoor open-air museum is free to visit, and the village does not charge admission to see the trains, the derrick or the gas station. It runs as a nonprofit, so donations are welcome and tax deductible, and they help pay for upkeep, electricity and other operating costs on the grounds.

What are the Route 66 Historical Village hours?

As of October 2026, the outdoor exhibits are open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. The Visitor Center, staffed by volunteers, is listed as open April through November on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon to 3 pm and closed December through March. The contact page also says by appointment only, so call (918) 619-9473 first.

What trains are at the Route 66 Historical Village?

The rail collection includes the Frisco 4500 Meteor steam engine, the red Frisco 1157 caboose and the Tulsa-Sapulpa Union Murray Hill car, a Pullman car built in 1929. The village also describes other rail cars on the grounds. The steam engine is the centerpiece, and the village calls it its crown jewel.

What is the Frisco 4500 Meteor?

The Frisco 4500 Meteor is the steam locomotive at the center of the Route 66 Historical Village, a Frisco engine that the village itself describes as its crown jewel. It stands with the Frisco 1157 caboose and other rail cars on the grounds. You can see it any time, since the outdoor exhibits are always open.

What is the Murray Hill Pullman car in Tulsa?

The Tulsa-Sapulpa Union Murray Hill car was built by the Pullman Car Company in 1929. It first served the New York, New Haven and Hartford and the Pennsylvania Railroad's Federal Express train. Members of Tulsa's Townwest Sertoma Club led the project to strip off old paint and rust, and the village uses the car to teach about early travel and business.

Can you go inside the trains at the Route 66 Historical Village?

The village does not post whether visitors can board the locomotive, caboose or Pullman car. The exhibits are outdoors and are seen from the grounds, and a historical marker describes the collection. If boarding matters to you, call (918) 619-9473 or ask the Village Crew during Visitor Center hours.

Does the Route 66 Historical Village have train rides?

No train rides are listed. The Route 66 Historical Village is a static, open-air exhibit of restored equipment. For a real train ride in Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Railway Museum in Oklahoma City runs vintage diesel trains on select Saturdays and is about 94 miles away.

What else is at the Route 66 Historical Village besides trains?

Along with the rail cars, the village shows Tulsa's oil history through the Centennial Derrick and pump jacks, plus a cottage gas station in the style of the old Route 66 roadside. The Red Fork Depot event venue stands on the grounds, and the village added a new neon sign in 2020.

What is the Red Fork Depot?

The Red Fork Depot is a 5,000 square foot event venue on the grounds of the Route 66 Historical Village, just south of downtown Tulsa. It is available to rent for parties and gatherings, and rentals help support the village. Ask about dates at events@route66village.com or (918) 619-9473.

Can I host a birthday party or event at the Route 66 Historical Village?

Yes, through the Red Fork Depot, the village's event venue. It is a 5,000 square foot space available for private gatherings, and the depot has its own website with a tour of the venue. For pricing and availability, email events@route66village.com or call (918) 619-9473.

Is the Route 66 Historical Village good for kids?

Yes, as a quick, free stop. Kids can see a full-size steam engine, a red caboose, a tall oil derrick and an old-style gas station in one short walk. There are no rides or play areas listed, so it pairs well with other stops on a Route 66 day in Tulsa.

How long does a visit to the Route 66 Historical Village take?

The village does not suggest a visit length. Because it is a compact outdoor exhibit, most families can see the trains, derrick and gas station in under an hour. Allow more time if you want to read every sign or chat with the Village Crew when the Visitor Center is open.

Is the Route 66 Historical Village open at night?

Yes, the outdoor exhibits are open 24/7, so you can stop after dark on a road trip. The village's neon sign, added in 2020 with City of Tulsa Vision 2025 funds, makes a nighttime stop worthwhile for photos. The Visitor Center keeps shorter seasonal hours, so evening visitors will be on their own.

What is the Route 66 Honor Brick program?

For the 2026 Route 66 Centennial, the village sells personalized engraved bricks for $66 to remember your own trip or that of a loved one along the highway. Proceeds go to maintaining and preserving the village. Look for the Brick Order link on the village's home page.

Who runs the Route 66 Historical Village?

The Route 66 Village and Red Fork Depot operate as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Volunteers called the Village Crew staff the Visitor Center, and donations and venue rentals cover operating costs. The City of Tulsa has supported the village too, including funding for its neon sign through Vision 2025.

How can I volunteer at the Route 66 Historical Village?

The village invites people who enjoy giving visitors a warm Oklahoma welcome to join its volunteer Village Crew, who staff the Visitor Center. Use the contact form on route66village.com or call (918) 619-9473 to ask about shifts. You can also help as a Friend of the Village with a tax-deductible donation.

What is the mission of the Route 66 Historical Village?

Its mission is to offer hands-on indoor and outdoor learning for all ages about how the legendary Route 66 shaped Tulsa's history and growth. The focus covers every mode of transportation, including the railroads, along with the oil industry. The trains, derrick and gas station together tell that story.

Is there parking at the Route 66 Historical Village?

The village does not post parking details online. It sits along Southwest Boulevard in Tulsa, and most visitors arrive by car on Route 66. Call (918) 619-9473 before you go if you are driving an RV or a large vehicle and want to know where to park.

What train museums are near the Route 66 Historical Village?

The Oklahoma Steam Threshers and Gas Engine Association grounds in Pawnee are about 47 miles away, the Oklahoma Territorial Museum in Guthrie is about 82 miles, and the Oklahoma Railway Museum in Oklahoma City is about 94 miles. Across the Arkansas line, the Fort Smith Trolley Museum is about 102 miles away.

Keep exploring

More family train guides from Rally

Kelsey Cecil
Previous

Susquehanna Valley Railway Historical Society in Binghamton, New York
Next

Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum, California